Inner tube



Mar. 27, 1923.

T. 1. MCCAFFREY.

INNER TUBE.

FILED Dic. 13. |920.

' Patented Manz?, 192s,

UNITED STATESv ,450,096 PATENT QEEEQE@ THOMAS I. MCCAFFREY, F SEATTLE,WSHINGTON".

INNER TUBE.

' Application .tiled December 13, 1920. Serial No. 430,374.

To all whom t may concern.'

`Be it known that I, THoMnsJ.- MCCA'F- FREY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Seattle, in the county-of'King and State ofWashington, have invented certain new and useful yImprovements in InnerTubes, of which the following is a specification., reference being hadto the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in inner tubes forpneumatic tires or other inflatable bodies, and it is an object of `antadvantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensiveand other- .wise more convenient and advantageous for use, as willbehereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.l

In order that my inventionv may be the 'betterunderstood, I will nowproceed to de-` scribe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partly in sideeleva'tion and partly insection illustrating an inner tube constructed in accordance with anembodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is an -enlar ed. transverse Sectional view taken throug a tubeconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention with theinserted member in its initial or relaxed condition, and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the inserted member undercompress1on. f'

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, T denotes an inner tubeprovided at its tread portion with a circumferentially disposedpartition 1 preferably of rubber and s aced from the tread portion ofthe tube F proper. Arranged within the champunctu-re is substantiallyelimil ber afforded between the partition 1 and the tread portion of thetube T proper is a iller 2 of fibrous material and particularly cork.

Secured by vulcanization or otherwise to the innen face of the tube Tand substantlally centrally of the side faces of said tube or at theconnected marginal portions of the partitions 1 are the strands 3 ofrubber or other material and which strands provide circumferentialldisposed abutting members, said stran s tinuous.

R'denotes a continuous sheet of relatively soft rubber or rubbercomposition initially lmolded into the cross sectional configuration asis particularly illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. Incross section, the sheet R at its transverse center is substantiallyV-shaped, as at @,while each of the side marginal portions b isconcavoconvex in cross section with the convex face ,inwardly disposed.

In the production of they tube T, the sheet R is arranged in said tube'and the initial transverse diameter of the sheet R is such whereby theside marginal portions of the sheets R'contact or engage with thestrands or abutments 3 while the intermediate or apex portion of saidsheet R has contact withv the treadortion of said tube at substantiallythe transversecenter thereof.

When the tube T is inflated, the side inbows or marginal portions b areforced outwardly by the inflation or pressure. resultving in the outerface of said sheet R snugly contacting at all points with the treadportion of the tube T between the strands or abutments 3. This actionalso results in the sheet R being compressed within itself to such anextent that in the event of `a puncture through the tread portion of thetube T, the resultant opening` upon release of the puncturing element,will instantantly close by the expansion of the sheets R.

From the foregoing description it is -thought to be obvious that aninner tube constructed in accordance with 'my invention is particularlywell adapted for use by reason-of the convenience and facility withwhich it may be assembled and operated, and it willvalso be obvious thatmy invention is or abutments being conlos susceptible of some change andmodification without departing from the principles and spirit thereofand for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself tothe precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shownin carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: An inner tube provided substantially centrally of its sideswith internal annular abut- ,y ments and a continuous sheet ofcompressible material positioned Within the tube for co-action with thetread portion of the tube, said sheet bein initially of a fixedformation substantia ly in the form of a V With the side marginalportions of the sheet contacting with the abutments and the apex portionof the sheet disposed toward the central part of the tread portion ofthe tube, the side marginal portions of the sheet being concavo-convexin cross section with the convex face inwardly disposed, the sideportions of the sheet when the tube is inflated being forced outwardlyto cause said sheet to have snug contact at all portions with the treadportion of the tube between the abutments, said sheet when in the lastnamed position under pressure within the tube bein compressed Withinitself.

n testimony whereof .I hereunto affix my signature.

THOMAS J MCCAFFREY.

